Our Story
After an “unexplained” fire burned their family business to the ground, Pastor Mike and Holly Wehde felt God’s call to plant a new church. They didn’t know where and they didn’t know how, but they did know that God was calling them to begin a journey, which would spread the life-giving message of Jesus Christ. God soon brought another family, Pastor Jeff and Stacy Barksdale who would embrace the vision and join in the journey of planting Lifecoast Church. On March 5th 2006 Lifecoast had its very first public Celebration service, which was attended by nearly 200 people. Since that very first service in 2006, Lifecoast has grown and become a vibrant part of the Palm Coast Community.
At the beginning of 2016 God moved in the leadership of Lifecoast and Pastor Mike Wehde shifted from being the Lead Pastor into a more missional role as The Founding Pastor of Lifecoast Church. This Shift has freed Mike up to pursue his passions and giftedness of training up church planters and future leaders for the Kingdom of God.
Within that shifting, Pastor Jeff Barksdale has felt God’s Call to assume the role of Lead Pastor, which was affirmed by our Overseers, Our Elders, Our Ministry Leaders as well as the family of Lifecoast Church.
Our Vision
Loving people into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.
We spend most of our time and energy out IN the community, serving people in their most basic needs. We'll be at the beach, handing out cold waters on a hot day, or at a festival feeding people hot dogs, or at a school serving brunch to the teachers. We have even created a coffee shop for everyday people to enjoy great services in a warm environment.
We know that a church becomes all it was intended to be when it loves people as much as we love God. In order to make an impact on this community, we are working to become a family that Celebrates, Serves, Grows, and Multiplies together for His glory. God has created us to do life together, as we learn to love one another as God loves us, we will grow healthy and strong. And as we grow we increase in our capacity to love those around us, and make a positive impact on the world! In other words, when you become a member of the family, you will always feel like you are being challenged to take His love back into your world.
Essential Beliefs
Below you will find our 8 essential beliefs. We understand there are many other beliefs and doctrines to hold to, but as a nondenominational church, we consider those to be ongoing discussions we have with each other as we strive to maintain Unity in Christ. All of these are discussed in depth during Life Track. You can sign up for that class "here." Also, we invite you at any time to email or sit and chat over coffee with us to help you understand us better. It would be a pleasure!
1. Bible
The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and Christian living. Because it is inspired by God, the Bible (original text) is absolute truth without any mixture of error.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
2. God
God is the Creator and Ruler of All Things seen and unseen. He is eternal, with no beginning or end. He has always existed in the form of three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and distinct while eternally existing as only One God.
Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22, Psalm 90:2, Matthew 28:19, 1 Peter 1:2, 2 Corinthians 13:14
3. Jesus
Jesus is the Son of God, He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life. He offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world by dying on a cross. He rose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. Jesus then ascended to Heaven’s glory where He is seated at the right hand of God the Father interceding on our behalf. Jesus promised he would return for His bride, The Church.
Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13
4. Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, spiritual gifts as well as guidance in doing what is right. Christians should seek to live under His control daily.
2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1
5. Salvation
Salvation is God’s free gift to us. We can never make up for our sin through self improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s atoning sacrifice for sin can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith, we are saved. Eternal life with God begins the moment we receive Jesus Christ into our life by faith.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
6. Mankind
People are made in the spiritual image of God, which means every person is important. We are the supreme object of God’s creation. However, all people, even morally good people, are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God. The Bible calls this – Sin. This attitude leaves us separated from God.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2
7. THE CHURCH
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all true believers are members. We believe in the local church, which is a community of believers in Jesus Christ, who gather for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has commissioned the local church with the primary task of bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.
1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:4
8. Eternity
People were created to exist eternally. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. Those who reject Jesus will be eternally separated from God in The Lake of Fire. Those who receive salvation through faith will spend eternity with Him in the new Heaven and the new earth. Heaven and The Lake of Fire are real places of eternal existence.
John 3:16; John 2:25; John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; 1 John 5:11-12; Matthew 25:31-46